Gulf Air (GF) is reconsidering plans to sell at least four of its current A320-200s as part of a wider fleet review, chief executive Jeffrey Goh told Aviation Week.
“We are currently reviewing our aircraft portfolio needs with plans to acquire two B787s and six or seven A320/A321s in the coming years. [the plan to sell the four A320s]”We may need additional capacity,” he said.
According to ch-aviation’s fleet module, the airline currently operates eight A320-200s. Gulf Air owns all eight of the aircraft, which were delivered in 2009 and 2010. The airline has been gradually phasing out the model in recent years, down from a peak of 19 in 2010. The airline also owns and operates four A321-200s, with two being retired in 2022.
Gulf Air had originally planned to retire all of its A320-200s and A321-200s by 2023, but extended the deadline indefinitely during the pandemic. Because the airline owns these aircraft, it has flexibility over the retirement date.
Bahrain’s national airline’s Airbus orderbook currently consists of six A320-200Ns and four A321-200NX(LR). The airline already operates six A320-200Ns, nine A321-200NXs and four A321-200NX(LR). All but one of the new generation jets are dry-leased, as opposed to the airline’s own A320ceo family aircraft. The fleet also has 10 B787-9s, with two more due to be delivered by Boeing. Goh recently said the airline is considering ordering new widebody aircraft.
